Location of the Hamstring Muscle

by
JOE MILLER Sept. 11, 2017

Joe Miller

Joe Miller started writing professionally in 1991. He specializes in writing about health and fitness and has written for "Fit Yoga" magazine and the New York Times City Room blog. He holds a master's degree in applied physiology from Columbia University, Teacher's College.

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The hamstring muscles run along the back of your thigh, from your pelvis to your lower leg. There are three hamstrings: the semimembranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris. All three bend the knee and extend the hip joint, meaning they enable you to straighten your upper leg from a bent position and move your thigh back toward the buttocks. The hamstring muscles play important roles in many common activities, including walking and running.

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Semimembranosus and Semitendinosus

Two of the hamstring muscles -- the semimembranosus and semitendinosus -- lie on the inner side of the back of your thigh. Both muscles originate from the sitting bone, or ischial tuberosity, on the back of the pelvis. The semimembranosus inserts onto the back of the upper shin bone, or tibia. The semitendinosus -- named for its long tendon -- attaches to the inner shaft of the tibia and helps form the bulge of tissue on the inner knee known as the pes anserinus, or "goose foot."

Biceps Femoris

The biceps femoris, named for its two muscle bellies, or heads, lies on the outer side of the back of the thigh. The long head originates on the ischial tuberosity, close to the attachment point of the semitendinosus. The short head originates from the back of the lower thigh bone. Both heads insert onto the head of the fibula, the long bone that runs down the outer shin.